The Tale of Gamelyn
Folio 62v
3 of 26 folios
5
Thre sones þe knight hadde and with his body he hem wan
The eldest was a moche schrewe and sone he bigan
His breþeren loued wel here fader and of him were agast
The eldest deserueþ his faderes curs & hadde it atte last
The goode knight his fader lyued so yore
10
That deþ was comen him to and handlid him ful sore
The goode knight cared sore sik þer he lay
How hise children schulde lyuen after his day
He hadde ben wyde wher but non housbond he was
Alle þe lond þat he hadde it was verrey purchas
15
Fayn he wolde it were dressed among hem aƚƚ
That eche of hem hadde his part as it mighte faƚƚ
Tho sente he in to contre after wise knightes
To helpen delen his londes and dressen hem to rightes
He sent hem word by lr~es þey scholden hyȝe blyue
20
If þey wolde speke wiþ him whil he was on lyue
Tho þe knightes herden seek þat he lay
Hadde þei no reste neiþer night ne day
Til þei comen to him þer he lay stille
On his deþ bedde to abyde goddes wille
25
Thanne seyd þe goode knight syk þer he lay
Lordes I ȝou warne for soþe wiþouten nay
I may no lengere lyuen heer in þis stounde
For þorugh goddes wille deth draweþ me to grounde /
Ther nas noon of hem aƚƚ þat herde him aright
30
That þay hadden reuþe of þat ilke knight
And seyde sire for goddes loue dismaye ȝou nought
God may don boote of bale þat is now y wrougħt
Than spak þe goode knight sike þer he lay
Boote of bale god may sende I wot it is no nay
35
But I beseke ȝou knightes for þe loue of me
Goþ and dresseth my lond among my sones þre
And for þe loue of god deleþ hem nat amys
And forȝeteþ nought Gamelyn my ȝonge sone þat is
Takeþ heede to þat oon as wel as to þat oþer
40
Seelde ȝe see ony heir helpen his broþer